So, this week cannot continue without me sharing more about my amazing Kohl’s trip! We haven’t even talked about the Color Run yet! In case you missed the first two posts…
#ColorMeKohls: Day One in Milwaukee
I’ve done quite a few 5Ks over the years, but I’ll start by saying I’ve never done a 5K like The Color Run.
We were completely excited about participating in the Color Run with the Kohl’s team, but never would have expected it to be as awesome as it was.
Early that morning, our team got dressed in our #YESMoment t-shirts and pink Fitbits from Kohl’s, and put on our brightly colored tutus for the event. I’d been working on making these tutus for a few weeks, and thankfully had my niece Hailey to help with them during her recent trip to Colorado. Thanks, Hailey!
We also had three additional tutus in tow for some fabulous ladies who were meeting us at Miller Field! Incredibly generous, Kohl’s also sponsored several local ladies to join us for the Color Run. I’m so glad that Laurel, Mariana, Kate, and Callie were able to join us for the festivities! (PS… Mariana and Kate are bloggers too! Be sure to follow them at Project Unfluff and Kate’s Quest to Wellness.)
The energy at the race was just awesome. We arrived at the venue to see Zumba well underway…. and lots of laughing and smiling around every corner. Billed as the Happiest 5K on the Planet, the energy was fantastic…
Between us friends, I’ll also tell you that it gave me chills to see that the Color Run focuses on happiness, considering the Happiness Tour I’ve been on this summer. We also had a HAPPY tattoo in our race packets which I was proud to rock all weekend long. I can’t even tell you how sad I was to remove this btw…
After taking some pre-race (AKA clean) pictures at Miller Park, the Kohls team whisked us to the front of the second wave of runners/walkers so (again) we could have that VIP race experience! Here we are before the fun began!
Following us throughout the race was our camera crew. With video cameras, capturing still shots, and with GoPros capturing the whole event – – I can’t wait to see their footage!
The race itself takes participants on, of course, a 3.2 mile race course… but the excitement comes with the color stations that appear along the way.
So, when you go through a Color Run color station… how much color you pick up is really up to you. We realized this very quickly when we all passed through the pink station with very little pink on us. You really have to stay to the sides if you want color, and to almost dance through spinning to get colors on all sides. Where the real color coating happens is at the dance party at the end…
After we got ourselves coated with orange, we came upon this station: Seriously, y’all… a Happy Wall
Saying that this was my favorite part of the race is an absolute understatement. Even thinking about about it now, I’m a little taken aback by the fact it was there. Sponsored by post-it, there was a tablet set up where you could write down what makes you happy. You know I couldn’t resist.
I also loved that Mariana captured this moment. Me, writing on the post-its to post on the Happy Wall, with my happy tattoo on… so happy to be spending the day with my closest friends.
I wrote that being here with Kohl’s made me happy (understatement) and my friend Angela posted that I make her happy – – “The Kelly Guy show.”
We continued through the 5K, stopping quite a bit to take pictures and assure we were hydrated and colorful… After heading through the final SHINE station… AKA Glitter, we were on our way to the finish line!
After running the “big finish”, we were awarded our medals and stopped to take a few pictures with the Kohl’s team.
And then, of course… we headed in to be part of this dance party. I mean, we needed more color, and to dance to Taylor Swift, Run DMC, and others…
Overall, this 5K for me was the Happiest 5K ever. I can’t even believe what a good time we had.
After shooting a few video clips for Kohls, we loaded the bus heading to the hotel and making a bee-line for the showers.
I probably could continue to load picture after picture after picture…. but I’ll stop here and leave you with this very last one from the Color Run.
I love this picture… in all its colored, filthy glory because IT IS the Happiness Tour. Such an amazing morning!
Disclaimer: This weekend and its associated #YESMoment was sponsored by Kohl’s; however, my comments of the trip and Kohl’s programs are based completely upon my personal experience and opinion.